US9021770B2 - Sealing station - Google Patents
Sealing station Download PDFInfo
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- US9021770B2 US9021770B2 US12/945,165 US94516510A US9021770B2 US 9021770 B2 US9021770 B2 US 9021770B2 US 94516510 A US94516510 A US 94516510A US 9021770 B2 US9021770 B2 US 9021770B2
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sealing station
- sealing
- bottom sheet
- mold
- inlet channel
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
- B29C65/24—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools characterised by the means for heating the tool
- B29C65/30—Electrical means
- B29C65/305—Electrical means involving the use of cartridge heaters
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/003—Protecting areas of the parts to be joined from overheating
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
- B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
- B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
- B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
- B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
- B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
- B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
- B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
- B29C66/131—Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
- B29C66/348—Avoiding melting or weakening of the zone directly next to the joint area, e.g. by cooling
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
- B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
- B29C66/53—Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
- B29C66/534—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
- B29C66/5346—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially flat
- B29C66/53461—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially flat joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81431—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/818—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps
- B29C66/8181—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects
- B29C66/81811—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects of the welding jaws
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
- B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
- B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
- B29C66/83221—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
- B29C66/849—Packaging machines
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
- B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B7/162—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by feeding web material to securing means
- B65B7/164—Securing by heat-sealing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
- B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
- B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
- B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
- B29C66/7232—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer
- B29C66/72321—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer consisting of metals or their alloys
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
- B29L2031/7162—Boxes, cartons, cases
- B29L2031/7164—Blister packages
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
- B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
Definitions
- the present invention pertains to a sealing station in a thermoforming machine for sealing a cover sheet to a bottom sheet.
- Thermoforming machines are known as a component of blister packaging machines. They comprise a forming station, in which a plurality of pocket-like depressions or wells is formed in a bottom sheet, which can consist, for example, of plastic or aluminum or a combination of the two. In a downstream filling station, a product, such as a pharmaceutical tablet, is laid into each of these pockets. After the pockets have been filled with the product, the bottom sheet is sent to a sealing station. Just in front of the sealing station or inside it, a cover sheet is supplied and laid on top of the bottom sheet. Through the action of heat inside the sealing station, the cover sheet is sealed tightly to the bottom sheet, as a result of which the product is sealed in the pockets or pocket-like depressions.
- a sealing station generally consists of a first or upper mold, which is heated, for example, by heating cartridges, and a second or lower mold, which represents the counterpart to the first mold and comprises cavities for holding the bottom sheet with its pocket-like depressions. Because the facing surfaces of the cover sheet and bottom sheet are pressed against each other and thus are at least partially welded together, a great deal of heat is transferred during the sealing operation from the upper mold to the cover sheet and also to the bottom sheet.
- the layers of high thermal conductivity present within the composite sheet structure the materials of which can comprise aluminum, lead to the result that the heating of the composite sheet structure consisting of the cover sheet and bottom sheet affects the product lying in the cavities and sealed in on all sides by the composite sheet structure.
- a maximum temperature may not be exceeded at any time during the packaging process, because otherwise the product could suffer damage, in the worst case even decomposition could occur.
- the second or lower mold must be kept at a predetermined cooling temperature which may not be exceeded.
- the composite sheet structure must be cooled down immediately after the sealing operation.
- the lower molds of thermoforming machines usually comprise a water cooling system, wherein, in the lower mold, channels filled with cooling water are present, which ensure in particular that the temperature of the lower mold does not increase through contact with the heated upper mold during the sealing time but instead remains below a certain temperature threshold.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,306 discloses a device for packaging articles between two heat-sealable plastic sheets. During the sealing operation, the composite sheet structure is cut along the product-free sealing area by a knife held perpendicular to the composite sheet structure. To cool the composite sheet structure in this area so that uniform cutting is ensured, air slots are provided in the lower mold. This device, however, does not cool the product enclosed by the composite sheet structure but rather only the sections of the sheet structure lying in the sealing area. A device of this type is therefore unsuitable for especially heat-sensitive products.
- DE 34 04 451 A1 describes a packaging machine with an evacuation and sealing station for welding monofilms by means of a continuously heatable welding element. So that the monofilm is not destroyed by contact with the continuously heated welding element, a control unit is provided, which is designed so that it generates a pressure difference in the interior of the chamber between the pressure above the upper film and the pressure below it, so that the upper film always lies taut on the product and on the lower film during and also after contact with the welding element. Only after a cooling phase is the pressure difference removed, so that the package with the film, which has now been stabilized again, can be lifted and sent further along. In the lower mold of the evacuation and sealing station, channels are formed, through which a negative pressure is generated so that the film and the product rest directly on the top surface of the lower mold.
- the sealing station in a thermoforming machine for sealing a cover sheet to a bottom sheet having pocket-like depressions to hold products comprises a first mold and a second mold, the second mold having cavities to accept the pocket-like depressions in the bottom sheet.
- the sealing station further comprises a vent system, which involves an inlet channel and an outlet channel in an area of each of the cavities so that, during a sealing operation, a vent space is formed between each depression in the bottom sheet and each cavity, and air entering through the respective inlet channel passes over the depression in the bottom sheet in the vent space and escapes through the respective outlet channel.
- vent space means that, between the pocket-like depression in the bottom sheet and the cavity in the lower mold, there is an area which prevents the air entering through the inlet channel from either damaging or changing the surface of the pocket-like depression. This guarantees that one and the same mold can be used for various shapes of the pocket-like depressions in the bottom sheet. Shrinkage of the bottom sheet is taken into account, because the vent system means that there is no need for the pocket-like depressions in the bottom sheet to rest precisely in the cavity.
- vent system is able to transfer heat from the depressions in the bottom sheet to the air in the vent space and thus to dissipate this heat during the sealing operation.
- the air stream which is supplied through the inlet channel or inlet channels is therefore able to carry the heat transferred from the upper mold to the composite sheet structure consisting of the cover sheet and the bottom sheet away from the bottom sheet, so that the heating of the sealed-in product is effectively reduced or completely prevented.
- a compressed air supply is preferably provided in such a way that, upon arrival of the air in the vent space, no static pressure is exerted on the bottom sheet. This prevents the shape of the pocket-like depressions in the bottom sheet from changing as a result of excessive pressure and also prevents the product present inside it from undergoing any possible negative effects. Through the suitable choice of the pressure of the inflowing air, no static pressure which could act on the surface of the depressions of the bottom sheet is therefore produced. On the contrary, the air in the vent space passes along the surface of the bottom sheet as it travels toward the outlet channel or outlet channels, thus acting as a heat-transfer agent.
- the turbulence can be produced, for example, by installing vortex-generating grates or compartments in the inlet channel.
- the cross section of the inlet channel can also help to increase the turbulence; it does not have to be circular or rectangular. The cross section can change over the length of the inlet channel in such a way as to increase the turbulent effect.
- the air inlet angle between the inlet channel and the cavity is advantageous in particular for the air inlet angle between the inlet channel and the cavity to be less than 90°, and more preferably between 30° and 70°. In comparison with an inlet angle of 90°, a slanted inlet angle leads to a more turbulent flow and thus to a better cooling action.
- the inlet channel or inlet channels it is also possible for the inlet channel or inlet channels to be neither centrally nor symmetrically arranged with respect to the cavity in the second mold.
- outlet channel or outlet channels in such a way that the route between the inlet channel and the outlet channel or outlet channels has the maximum possible length in the vent space. As a result of this longer route, the surface area in the vent space along which the air passing by can carry away heat from the bottom sheet is also increased.
- the sealing station is designed as a plate sealing station.
- the cover sheet and the bottom sheet are supplied in cycles, and the second mold comprises several cavities to hold the pocket-like depressions in the bottom sheet.
- each inlet channel be connected to a common central chamber, which is fed by a compressed air source. This ensures a uniform pressure distribution.
- a single compressed air source can accomplish the cooling of the entire lower mold.
- the inventive sealing station as a roller type sealing station.
- the principle of such roller type sealing stations is generally known; the special feature, however, is that, in addition to a water cooling system in the bottom roller, this roller also has a vent system, which ensures a cooling action along the sealing line and also over a certain predetermined distance after that.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a specific embodiment of the sealing station according to the invention in the opened state;
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the closed sealing state
- FIG. 3 shows a part of the embodiment of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a specific embodiment of the sealing station according to the invention in the open state.
- the sealing station 1 has a first or upper mold 3 and a second or lower mold 5 , which are arranged parallel to each other and between which a cover sheet 7 , unwound from a roll 9 of cover sheet material, and a bottom sheet 11 , lying directly underneath, extend.
- the bottom sheet 11 comprises pocket-like depressions 12 , in each of which a product 13 , in particular a pharmaceutical product, to be sealed is located.
- the upper mold 3 is heated to a predetermined sealing temperature by, for example, heat cartridges 15 .
- the lower mold 5 is usually held at a second, predetermined cooling temperature by a water cooling system (not shown).
- the corresponding temperatures are adjusted and regulated by control units (not shown) in suitable fashion so that an optimal sealing effect is always achieved and the sealed, molded composite structure consisting of the cover sheet 7 and the bottom sheet 11 does not exceed a certain temperature threshold.
- the upper mold 3 and the lower mold 5 are moved up and down by suitable drives (not shown) in correspondence with the cycling of the plate sealing station 1 , wherein, in the present case, five rows of pocket like depressions 12 , arranged one behind the other to hold the products 13 , are sealed in a single sealing operation.
- the arrangement of the pocket-like depressions 12 is therefore two-dimensional.
- FIG. 2 shows the plate sealing station 1 of FIG. 1 in the closed state, that is, at the time when the cover sheet 7 and the bottom sheet 11 are sealed to each other to produce a composite sheet structure.
- the upper mold 3 and the lower mold 5 are moved toward each other and held in the position shown for a predetermined period of time, called the “sealing time”, wherein the bottom surface of the upper mold presses the cover sheet 7 onto the bottom sheet 11 resting on the top surface of the lower mold 5 .
- the heat of the upper mold 3 is thus transferred to the cover sheet 7 , which in the usual case consists of hard aluminum, aluminum of defined hardness, or of an aluminum foil laminated with paper or plastic.
- the material of the bottom sheet is usually PVC, PVD-PVDC, or PVC-ACLAR, but other materials can also be used such as laminated aluminum foils, COC, PS, PP, or PET.
- the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is a plate sealing station, in which a sealing process takes place in cycles. After the station has been opened again from the closed state shown in FIG. 2 , the sealed and thus heated composite sheet structure is sent to a cooling station.
- FIG. 3 shows the area marked “I” in FIG. 2 on a larger scale.
- the way in which the sealing station operates is explained in detail below on the basis of FIG. 3 .
- a central or middle channel 17 is formed, from which an inlet channel 19 extends to each cavity 14 .
- the contour of the cavity 14 is oriented around the contour of the pocket-like depression 12 in the bottom sheet 11 . It should be noted here that, although an exact correspondence of the contour of the cavity 14 to the contour of the pocket-like depression 12 is desirable, for the sake of low-cost production and because of the shrinkage of the bottom sheet, such exact correspondence is not feasible.
- a vent space 23 is formed, which extends over the entire surface of the cavity 14 .
- Outlet channels 21 here constituting the lateral boundaries of the cavity 14 , are formed in the lower mold 5 .
- Compressed air from a compressed air source (not shown) is supplied to the central channel 17 ; entering through the inlet channel 19 , this air arrives in the vent space 23 in each cavity 14 .
- the air introduced into the vent space 23 does not result in any static pressure which could act on the pocket-like depressions 12 in the bottom sheet 11 and thus deform or damage the bottom sheet 11 . This is important, because deformation or damage to the bottom sheet 11 is unacceptable for quality reasons. Instead, the air passes in the form of a turbulent air flow through the vent space 23 from the inlet channel 19 to the outlet channels 21 .
- the heat present in the bottom sheet 11 i.e., the heat which was transferred by the sealing operation from the upper mold 3 via the cover sheet 7 , is transferred in turn to the air which is passing by and is thus carried away. As a result, the bottom sheet 11 is cooled in the area of the vent space 23 . This in turn has the result that the product 13 located between the cover sheet and the bottom sheet is also cooled and thus protected from the damage which could be caused by heat.
- inlet channel 19 In the embodiment shown here, only one inlet channel 19 is shown per cavity 14 , this channel arriving at the cavity 14 at an angle of 90°. It is especially advantageous for the angle of incidence of the inlet channel 19 to the cavity 14 to be not exactly 90° but rather, for example, between 30° and 70°. This leads to greater turbulence of the air flow and thus to a greater heat-transfer effect from the cover sheet 11 to the air passing by. It is also possible to provide several inlet channels 19 per cavity 14 . The same applies to the outlet channels; that is, one or more outlet channels 21 can be present per cavity 14 .
- the cooling effect of which can be adjusted as required.
- the temperature of the incoming air is also important, and accordingly it is conceivable that, to increase the cooling effect, highly cooled compressed air could be used. It is also possible to use only certain gases such as nitrogen or compressed carbon dioxide or to add them to the compressed air to exert a positive effect on the cooling action.
- the sealing station can also be designed as a roller type sealing station.
- the upper mold corresponds to the sealing roller and the lower mold to the bottom roller.
- the cover sheet and the bottom sheet pass through the two rollers and are sealed continuously to each other at the sealing line, that is, at the point where the sealing roller and the bottom roller contact each other.
- the bottom roller comprises cavities uniformly spaced around its periphery, into which the pocket-like depressions of the bottom sheet correspondingly fit.
- the additional cooling beyond that achieved by the water cooling system of the bottom roller is provided by corresponding inlet and outlet channels at the cavities in the bottom roller.
- the routing of the air in the bottom roller is similar in principle to that shown in FIG. 3 .
- the air cooling is activated at the time when sealing begins and lasts until the composite sheet structure has left the bottom roller.
- the present invention thus provides a sealing station in which temperature-sensitive products can be effectively processed without damage.
Abstract
Description
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE102009047151 | 2009-11-25 | ||
DEDE102009047151.0 | 2009-11-25 | ||
DE102009047151A DE102009047151B3 (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2009-11-25 | sealing station |
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US20110120064A1 US20110120064A1 (en) | 2011-05-26 |
US9021770B2 true US9021770B2 (en) | 2015-05-05 |
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US12/945,165 Active 2032-12-28 US9021770B2 (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-11-12 | Sealing station |
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EP (1) | EP2327533B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102009047151B3 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160264270A1 (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2016-09-15 | Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. | Sealing foil liners to containers |
US20180127121A1 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-10 | Alkar-Rapidpak, Inc. | Web-Packaging Machines with Multiple Sealing Stations |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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GB201016930D0 (en) * | 2010-10-07 | 2010-11-24 | Ishida Europ Ltd | Lifting apparatus |
ITBO20120379A1 (en) * | 2012-07-12 | 2014-01-13 | Marchesini Group Spa | SEALING DEVICE FOR A HOLLOWED BELT WITH A COATING FILM TO OBTAIN A BLISTER BAND |
EP2998099B1 (en) * | 2014-09-22 | 2016-10-19 | Klocke Verpackungs-Service GmbH | Method for making and filling an application packaging for a liquid pharmaceutical product |
US10179667B2 (en) | 2016-02-29 | 2019-01-15 | Klocke Verpackungs-Service Gmbh | Method for the production and filling of an application package for a liquid pharmaceutical product |
US11292209B2 (en) * | 2017-02-13 | 2022-04-05 | Telsonic Holding Ag | Ultrasonic processing system, booster and method |
DE102021212468A1 (en) | 2021-11-05 | 2023-05-11 | HDG - Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH | Connecting device for connecting at least two layers of packaging material and method |
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- 2010-11-12 US US12/945,165 patent/US9021770B2/en active Active
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160264270A1 (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2016-09-15 | Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. | Sealing foil liners to containers |
US10343797B2 (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2019-07-09 | Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. | Sealing foil liners to containers |
US11787580B2 (en) | 2015-03-12 | 2023-10-17 | Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. | Sealing foil liners to containers |
US20180127121A1 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-10 | Alkar-Rapidpak, Inc. | Web-Packaging Machines with Multiple Sealing Stations |
US10875670B2 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2020-12-29 | Alkar-Rapidpak, Inc. | Web-packaging machines with multiple sealing stations |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20110120064A1 (en) | 2011-05-26 |
EP2327533A1 (en) | 2011-06-01 |
EP2327533B1 (en) | 2012-08-22 |
DE102009047151B3 (en) | 2011-07-28 |
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